Errors with Char arrays

I have been trying to make a program that uses derived classes but have run into a problem. I get the error type: " error C2440: '=' : cannot convert from 'const char [16]' to 'char' " when I try and intialize a char array of 255 to "Name Unknown" and such. Here is the complete program:
inherit.h

Is there a specific reason why you are intermingling C++ and C-like data storage?

If you want to store characters like immutable strings, you should be using const char arrays as opposed to char arrays.

But that's besides the point.

What you're doing is assigning a const char array of a particular size to a character value in the arrays that you declared in class scope.

You can make your life easier with the <string> implementation as opposed to using globally scoped arrays.

Just keep in mind that arrays aren't pointers - arrays are of a particular size and you cannot make them point to a different address. Once you declare an array of a size (say 255), you can't make it point to another array, which is what it looks like you are doing.

You can negate the problem by changing your globally-scoped arrays into pointers (particularly const char pointers) and have them point to c-strings declared in your constructor.

I don't understand regular strings (as opposed to the STL defined strings), but what I've heard is that these strings are 'handled' within read-only memory so for the most part you can trust your implementation to handle these type of strings for you without worrying about allocating memory or freeing it.

I wouldn't place logic on faith. Use the STL and make your life easier and your code portable.

Example:

change

char name[255];

to

const char* name;

and change

name[1]="Name Unknown";

to

name = "Name Unknown";

but again, this would be placing logic on faith.

If you use the string implementation, your code would look like this instead--

Almost always, unless you are instructed to use character arrays. When you are taking a course in c++ language your instructor may require you to use character arrays for the educational value of learning how to use them.